This Just In: Meetings, Email, and Interruptions Hurt You More Than You Think

We hate to break this to you: Just because you’re at work does not mean you’re getting work done.

Don’t worry, though, you’re not alone. Software development company Atlassian created an interactive infographic that pinpoints the three biggest culprits of workplace distractions. (In no particular order, they are excessive emailing, pointless meetings, and constant interruptions.)

We know the temptation to check your inbox every half an hour (or every five minutes) is strong. But, Atlassian notes that 10 IQ points are lost when fielding emails—and that’s equal to missing an entire night’s sleep. In addition, did you know that $1,250 per employee is wasted annually because of spam, $1,800 because of unnecessary emails, and between $2,100 and $4,100 because of poorly written communications?

Ineffective meetings are just as costly. U.S. businesses spend $37 billion every year for employees to attend unnecessary meetings. Most employees go to, on average, 62 meetings a month, and consider half of them—approximately 31 hours monthly—time wasted. Here’s a breakdown of an average meeting attendee’s behavior:

And, finally, constant interruptions are more deadly than they seem. An average employee experiences around 56 interruptions a day (more if you are popular), and 80% of these interruptions are considered trivial.

A board member of Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs, Kat is either hosting inspiring founders or trekking across cities (Silicon Valley and London, anyone?) to discover the hottest startups. And, when she’s not putting together large-group gatherings for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Kat is planning food excursions to discover the best Taiwanese beef noodle soup in NYC. The only thing she loves almost as much as crafting content as an Editorial Intern at The Muse is studying content as an English Major at Columbia University. Say hi on Twitter @katxmoon.

Meet The Author

A board member of Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs, Kat is either hosting inspiring founders or trekking across cities (Silicon Valley and London, anyone?) to discover the hottest startups. And, when she’s not putting together large-group gatherings for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Kat is planning food excursions to discover the best Taiwanese beef noodle soup in NYC. The only thing she loves almost as much as crafting content as an Editorial Intern at The Muse is studying content as an English Major at Columbia University. Say hi on Twitter @katxmoon.